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releases > September 15, 2004
Northern California Cancer Center Releases Breast
Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates in the Bay Area
Zero Breast Cancer Statement in Response to the Rate Release
(San Rafael, September 15, 2004) — Zero Breast
Cancer has carefully reviewed the long awaited analysis of the breast
cancer incidence and mortality rates in Marin County and the Bay
Area that the Northern California Cancer Center has worked so diligently
to produce.
However, as we review this data, it is important to keep in mind
the larger picture. Although there was a recent two-year decrease
in the incidence rates of invasive breast cancer in Marin County,
over time the rates have continued to increase. During the twelve-year
period of 1988 to 2001, the rates of invasive breast cancer increased
12.4% in Marin County, nearly double the statewide average. During
the same period of time, the rates of invasive breast cancer remained
the same in San Francisco County.
As a community, we have always known that breast cancer incidence
rates among white non-Hispanic women are higher in Marin County,
but we have never had any information about incidence trends among
women of other ethnic groups. This report confirms that the incidence
rate for Hispanic women is also higher in Marin, more than anywhere
else in Bay Area. This is particularly noteworthy because it is
the first time our community has had any information on breast cancer
trends among African-American, Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander
women.
There is important information that is missing from this report
because it is not collected or analyzed. For example, we still
don’t
know what the relapse rates are for breast cancer in Marin County
or the Bay Area. We also don’t know the breast cancer survival
trends. Zero Breast Cancer, in partnership with the Kaiser Permanente
Division of Research, is beginning to investigate breast cancer
relapse and survivorship.
This report not only highlights the elevated rates of breast
cancer, but prostate and uterine cancer as well. Clearly, we need
more information on the possible connections and causes of these
cancers- be they genetic, hormonal or environmental. Let us not
grasp onto any one theory. For example, some believe that the
use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) explains the high rates
of breast cancer in Marin County. Prostate cancer rates are comparable.
How many men are taking HRT?
The work of the Bay Area Breast Cancer and the Environment Research
Center is critically important to understanding the complex role
environmental factors play in the development of breast cancer.
Zero Breast Cancer, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kaiser
Permanente Division of Research, county public health departments
and breast cancer advocates are combining efforts in this unique
Bay Area and national study.
Everyday we are reminded that breast cancer has a major impact
on the lives of women and their families living in Marin and throughout
the Bay Area. These new rates simply show that the geographical
area of concern has widened to include San Francisco. In fact,
breast cancer in the Bay Area is a much larger problem than previously
reported. Which Bay Area County will be next? Even more than ever,
we need to redouble our efforts to find out why this is happening.
Zero Breast Cancer firmly believes that the solution lies
in forging new directions in community-based research, education
and advocacy.
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